Established in 1985, the Tarrant 911 District was created through state legislation to enhance emergency response capabilities. While the public may associate 911 with call takers and dispatchers, the district’s technical infrastructure plays a critical, and often invisible, role in keeping communities safe.
Deputy Director Kevin Kleck has been part of that evolution for decades. With a background in geography and information systems, Kleck began his career helping rural areas transition from vague address systems—like rural route box numbers—to standardized addresses that emergency responders could actually find.
That challenge has shifted over time. As cellphones became the primary way people call 911, the system had to adapt.
“We thought mobile phones would make up about 40% of our calls one day,” Kleck said. “Now it’s more like 90%.”
Unlike landlines, mobile devices don’t have fixed locations, requiring entirely new approaches to tracking caller locations.
Kleck’s role has grown alongside these changes. What began as a focus on mapping and data has expanded into overseeing complex technical operations, from supporting wireless call routing to upgrading dispatch center equipment and networks across the region.
A major advancement in recent years has been the adoption of text-to-911, made possible through the broader transition to Next Generation 911 technology. This upgrade replaces older systems with modern, internet-based infrastructure, enabling dispatch centers to receive emergency text messages in addition to voice calls.
“Text-to-911 helps get the right people to the right places at the right time,” Kleck said. “It's really helped a lot of the hearing impaired and deaf community.”
Looking ahead, the district continues to evolve, preparing for a future that includes more advanced technology to better serve Tarrant County residents.
“We're already seeing some of the benefits... We’re able to be more responsive when things go wrong and track down problems versus relying on a lot of antiquated systems that really weren't designed for doing some of the things that they're doing today to support 911,” Kleck said.
Through technological management, public education and continuous improvement of emergency communication systems, the Tarrant 911 District plays a pivotal role in public safety.
To learn more, visit the organization’s website.
The above story was produced by Multi-platform Journalist Mary Katherine Shapiro with Community Impact's Storytelling team with information solely provided by the local business as part of their "sponsored content" purchase through our advertising team.
